20 Easter Dinner Dishes That Aren’t Ham or Lamb
updated Feb 5, 2020
When it comes time to plan Easter dinner , a glazed ham or a big roast leg of lamb is the default. These dishes are classics for sure, but they’re far from the only options, especially if, like mine, your celebration will be on the small side this year. But what to make? Large cuts of beef, roast turkey, and cheesy pans of baked pasta are well-suited for the winter months, but don’t quite have the light, fresh feeling so many of us crave in April .
Pork tenderloin or pork chops can be easily dressed up with a sauce or simple glaze. (A ham glaze will go great with your tenderloin!) The same goes for chicken, which can be stuffed, doused with a lemony sauce, or cooked with a medley of spring veggies, to bring a little something extra to your holiday spread. Slow-roasted or poached fish is also a good choice. It’s packed with flavor and nearly foolproof to make without overcooking. (Yes, really!) And when it comes to meat-free mains, a sunny lemony pasta loaded with fresh spring vegetables or topped with burrata is all but a guaranteed hit.
If you want to switch it up this year, here are 20 fresh ideas for Easter mains that aren’t ham or lamb.
1. Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach & Cheese
Any time you want to dress up an everyday chicken breast into a dinner that feels fancy, all you need to do is stuff it with some greens and cheese.
Get the recipe: Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach & Cheese
2. Buttermilk-Poached Salmon
Buttermilk is the perfect poaching liquid for salmon. Salmon loves bright acidic flavors, and buttermilk is full of sharp tang. This recipe cooks salmon in two parts buttermilk and one part vegetable stock, and calls on lemon slices, garlic, bay leaves, and shallots to infuse the poaching liquid with flavor without a ton of effort. (You don’t even have to chop the garlic or shallot.)
Get the recipe: Buttermilk-Poached Salmon
3. Pork Loin with Herb Potatoes and Vegetables
If you’re looking for an Easter dinner that’s as wildly delicious as it is ridiculously easy to get on the table, you’ve come to the right spot. This 3-ingredient dinner starts with some of our favorite smart shortcuts from Trader Joe’s, but you can improvise with what you have. The idea is simple: Rub pork loin with herb butter and cook on a sheet pan with potatoes, green beans, and mushrooms.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Loin with Herb Potatoes and Vegetables
4. Braised Cod with Asparagus and Potatoes
This fast-and-fancy skillet dinner finishes with light, bright flavors that are perfect for a springtime holiday meal. It’s surprisingly easy to pull off.
Get the recipe: Skillet Braised Cod with Asparagus and Potatoes
5. Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin
On the years we don’t have ham, this is my favorite thing to cook for Easter dinner. The tenderloin, which comfortably feeds about four, is simply cooked, and finished with a sweet and tangy mustard-flecked glaze that makes it feel fancy.
Get the recipe: Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin
6. Herb-Baked Salmon
This is my favorite way to serve salmon for a crowd. Cooked at gentle 250°F, this fish finishes with a rich, buttery texture.
Get the recipe: Foolproof Salmon Baked with Olive Oil & Herbs
7. Feta-Brined Chicken Breast with Rosemary
Lots of briny feta and roasted garlic transform mild-mannered chicken breasts into a full-flavored, holiday-worthy meal.
Get the recipe: Feta-Brined Chicken Breast with Rosemary
8. Gorgonzola-Stuffed Steak Roll-Ups
A duo of vegetables and a touch of gorgonzola keep this steak dinner light, and just right for an Easter celebration.
Get the recipe: Gorgonzola-Stuffed Steak Roll-Ups
9. Juicy & Tender Roasted Pork Loin
If you prefer to skip the ham and lamb, a juicy pork loin is a nice alternative when you need a main to feed a crowd.
Get the recipe: How To Make Juicy & Tender Roasted Pork Loin: The Simplest, Easiest Method
10. Creamy French Mustard Chicken
I’ve been smitten with this skillet recipe since I first made it. It finishes with a luxe, just-tangy-enough sauce that instantly makes budget-friendly chicken thighs feel special.
Get the recipe: Creamy French Mustard Chicken
11. Sheet Pan Lemon-Herb Fish Fillets with Crispy Potatoes
If you’re looking for an easy but elegant main course, this is it. The fish cooks up perfectly on top of its own side dish of crispy potatoes, and the whole thing is just beautiful to look at.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Lemon-Herb Fish Fillets With Crispy Potatoes
12. Panko-Crusted Salmon with Dill & Lemon
Lemon and dill are a classic salmon pairing, but it’s the crispy golden panko crust that makes this version stand out on the table.
Get the recipe: Panko-Crusted Salmon with Dill & Lemon
13. Spaghetti with Crispy Pancetta, Peas, and Burrata
If you’ve been toying with the idea of pasta as your Easter main, this fast-and-fancy springtime number will not disappoint. Between the crispy pancetta, fresh herbs, and creamy burrata, it is downright delicious. You can keep it vegetarian by leaving out the pancetta.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Crispy Pancetta, Peas, and Burrata
14. Flank Steak with Bourbon Cream Sauce
The meaty bite and fatty flavor of flank steak is pretty irresistible all on its own, but add bourbon cream sauce and this simple meal becomes something far fancier. This quick-cooking sauce, swirled with smoky, sweet bourbon, a splash of stock, and some cream, is a luxe combo that takes your basic pan sauce to a new level.
Get the recipe: Flank Steak with Bourbon Cream Sauce
15. Easy Creamy Mustard Pork Chops
Bathed in a creamy pan sauce fragrant with apple cider, fresh thyme, and the sharp notes of two kinds of mustard, these pork chops feel indulgent, but only need about 30 minutes of cooking time. Serve them on a bed of egg noodles or with a heel of crusty bread because you’ll want to use up every drop of the amazing sauce.
Get the recipe: Easy Creamy Mustard Pork Chops
16. Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts
If you’re goal is a meat-free meal that’s easy, yet irresistibly delicious, this creamy spring pasta is a good idea. If you can find Meyer lemon, it makes a difference; the delicate floral, sweet notes helps puts this dish on another level.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Mascarpone, Meyer Lemon, Spinach, and Hazelnuts
17. Parmesan Risotto with Roasted Shrimp
This creamy risotto with salty Parmesan and sweet roasted shrimp feels appropriately fancy , as risotto is something many of us eat at restaurants but not at home. And the shrimp isn’t added to the bowl until right before serving, so if someone at your table isn’t into seafood, top their bowl with some roasted spring veggies instead.
Get the recipe: Parmesan Risotto with Roasted Shrimp
18. Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
If you crave an Easter dinner that screams spring, you cannot go wrong with this chicken recipe. Chicken breasts are poached in a luxurious and delicate lemon broth with wisps of green spinach and forkfuls of tender, nutty artichokes. And it’s cooked in the slow cooker, which means it’s easy and mostly hands off, yet still fancy enough for your holiday dinner.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
19. Zuni Cafe Roasted Chicken
If you’re leaning towards roast chicken, you cannot go wrong with this herb-packed rendition from Zuni Cafe. It requires some planning ahead, but it’s absolutely worth it. Take advantage of all the drippings and toss them with a salad of toasted bread and fresh greens, just like they do at the restaurant.
Get the recipe: How To Make a Zuni Cafe Roasted Chicken at Home
20. Pork Chops in Port Wine Sauce
If you want to get an early start on Easter, make the port wine sauce a day ahead and reheated it as the pork chops were cooking.
Get the recipe: Pork Chops in Port Wine Sauce
Kelli Foster
Food Editor, Plan & Prep
Kelli is the Food Editor for Plan & Prep content for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, The Probiotic Kitchen , Buddha Bowls , and Everyday Freekeh Meals . She lives in New York.
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Source : food
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